A.
Find Out:
1.
Of what is this chapter an account? v.1
2.
How many sons did Japhath have? v.2
3.
How many sons did Ham have? v.6
4.
How many sons did Shem have? v.22
5.
Why was Nimrod famous? v.8,9
6.
What else was he famous for? v.10-12
B.
Think :
1.
What was clearly happening in this chapter?
2.
What, does Nimrod show us, was the way that was happening?
3.
If this chapter was absent from the Bible what would we be left
wondering?
C.
Comment :
Our temptation when we come to chapters like this one which
are largely lists of families, is to write it off as of no consequence,
but the Scripture says "ALL Scripture is... useful" (2 Timothy
3:16).
It is, first of all, a record of the
three families that developed from Noah. From Ham was coming Canaan
who was cursed by his grandfather ( 9:25 ) and from Shem was going to
come the chosen family of Abram (next chapter).
The man who stands out in this chapter
is Nimrod (v.8-12). He was clearly acclaimed as a great man, a "mighty
hunter before the Lord" (v.9 x2). That is an apparently good side
of him but what was not so good is that he was a mighty warrior (conqueror
of other men in God's creation), he created a kingdom for himself and
made big cities, the first of which was Babylon.
Throughout Biblical history Babylon was
a centre of godless self worship, apparently following from its originator.
Many believe that Nimrod was the origin of much cult worship, the form
of which is still seen widely today. Here apparently was a man who started
well but turned to godless, destructive activity. Thus sin was clearly
still seen on the earth.
D.
Application?
1.
Family trees are about people. People are important to God.
2.
Beware empire builders!